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Post by bn12cny on May 7, 2021 14:41:55 GMT
Yes I can imagine the 424 being a nice little route to do, many regulars seem to be on first name terms with drivers, but a nightmare to learn. [/quote]
Also with the route 424 so much gossip!!! If there was not a regular driver on be complaints due to the bus not stopping outside the person front door, furthermore you will see your regular passengers day in and day out then suddenly you don’t see them for a few days and the whole bus will know where that passenger be..(Normally in hospital or unfortunately dead).
Also the 424 is a great social mobility bus because the locals will meet up with each other on the bus and do one full rounder because when you got to Craven Cottage normally had 5 minutes stand time but due to age demographics of the passengers you could not turf them off and other passengers already waiting to board, one social party and cures isolation, however was a little annoying if you needed to goto the shop around the corner or use the bathroom, you had to leave the bus with maybe 10 old people on and they would gossip about where you went etc! However the rewards outlive the gossips because you make people’s days, remain professional and the amount of chocolate and snacks you got was unbelievable....
I was on spareS and used to do this route quite often also was inter worked with the 485...
Is there any routes in London like the 424?
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2021 15:04:40 GMT
Yes I can imagine the 424 being a nice little route to do, many regulars seem to be on first name terms with drivers, but a nightmare to learn. Also with the route 424 so much gossip!!! If there was not a regular driver on be complaints due to the bus not stopping outside the person front door, furthermore you will see your regular passengers day in and day out then suddenly you don’t see them for a few days and the whole bus will know where that passenger be..(Normally in hospital or unfortunately dead). Also the 424 is a great social mobility bus because the locals will meet up with each other on the bus and do one full rounder because when you got to Craven Cottage normally had 5 minutes stand time but due to age demographics of the passengers you could not turf them off and other passengers already waiting to board, one social party and cures isolation, however was a little annoying if you needed to goto the shop around the corner or use the bathroom, you had to leave the bus with maybe 10 old people on and they would gossip about where you went etc! However the rewards outlive the gossips because you make people’s days, remain professional and the amount of chocolate and snacks you got was unbelievable.... I was on spareS and used to do this route quite often also was inter worked with the 485... Is there any routes in London like the 424?[/quote] The 389/399 is pretty much the same in terms of passengers knowing the driver and locals. The U10 is one of my local routes and the majority of passengers are elderly who live locally and are kinder to drivers than the average person |
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Post by greenboy on May 7, 2021 15:12:14 GMT
Yes I can imagine the 424 being a nice little route to do, many regulars seem to be on first name terms with drivers, but a nightmare to learn. Also with the route 424 so much gossip!!! If there was not a regular driver on be complaints due to the bus not stopping outside the person front door, furthermore you will see your regular passengers day in and day out then suddenly you don’t see them for a few days and the whole bus will know where that passenger be..(Normally in hospital or unfortunately dead). Also the 424 is a great social mobility bus because the locals will meet up with each other on the bus and do one full rounder because when you got to Craven Cottage normally had 5 minutes stand time but due to age demographics of the passengers you could not turf them off and other passengers already waiting to board, one social party and cures isolation, however was a little annoying if you needed to goto the shop around the corner or use the bathroom, you had to leave the bus with maybe 10 old people on and they would gossip about where you went etc! However the rewards outlive the gossips because you make people’s days, remain professional and the amount of chocolate and snacks you got was unbelievable.... I was on spareS and used to do this route quite often also was inter worked with the 485... Is there any routes in London like the 424?[/quote] The erstwhile 931 from Crystal Palace to Lewisham was very much like that, I almost felt like an interloper when I got on. |
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Post by galwhv69 on May 7, 2021 15:19:50 GMT
Also with the route 424 so much gossip!!! If there was not a regular driver on be complaints due to the bus not stopping outside the person front door, furthermore you will see your regular passengers day in and day out then suddenly you don’t see them for a few days and the whole bus will know where that passenger be..(Normally in hospital or unfortunately dead). Also the 424 is a great social mobility bus because the locals will meet up with each other on the bus and do one full rounder because when you got to Craven Cottage normally had 5 minutes stand time but due to age demographics of the passengers you could not turf them off and other passengers already waiting to board, one social party and cures isolation, however was a little annoying if you needed to goto the shop around the corner or use the bathroom, you had to leave the bus with maybe 10 old people on and they would gossip about where you went etc! However the rewards outlive the gossips because you make people’s days, remain professional and the amount of chocolate and snacks you got was unbelievable.... I was on spareS and used to do this route quite often also was inter worked with the 485... Is there any routes in London like the 424? As a 424 semi regular (usually get it home about once a week or so as it depends if I've just missed one at Putney Station) The 424 is great. Whilst I don't really hear greetings by name, many drivers do recognise you and stop wherever it's required. Many of the older folk in particular know each other so well, and often ask other passengers about certain regulars if they're not onboard. Maybe 389/399 or some of the R routes are similar? |
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Post by Paul on May 7, 2021 19:27:58 GMT
Is there any routes in London like the 424? I certainly found the R5/R10 to be like that. Same passengers getting on at the same place and at the same time every day. Friendly greetings and how are yous. Finding out exactly where they want dropping off on the Hail and Ride sections and yes complaints about the odd different driver on the route. There was one driver who did the route very, very rarely but the regulars would always complain to you about them driving too quickly or not stopping exactly where they wanted. I found the regulars treated you very much as one of the community and it was honestly the greatest fun I’ve had since I started this job |
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Post by Madstuntman on May 16, 2021 8:10:20 GMT
I’ve never driven it but surely the 129 would be the easiest to learn?
The thing is, route learning is very subjective. It’s different for everyone (don’t mean this to sound smug, sorry if it does) I never needed more than 1 rounder on any route before I drove it but I knew drivers that could spend 8 hours riding around on a route then still make a wrong turn.
261 was very easy to learn (helped by knowing the 126) other than Bromley town centre and a little left - right at the south circular followed by a left towards Lewisham it’s pretty much 1 road.
First TfL route I drove I did with absolutely no route learning was the B13. I did my first rounder on the phone via a hands free earpiece to another driver. (Many years ago... it was a different time!!) did my first rounder on the 286 that way too.
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Post by greenboy on May 16, 2021 11:23:55 GMT
I’ve never driven it but surely the 129 would be the easiest to learn? The thing is, route learning is very subjective. It’s different for everyone (don’t mean this to sound smug, sorry if it does) I never needed more than 1 rounder on any route before I drove it but I knew drivers that could spend 8 hours riding around on a route then still make a wrong turn. 261 was very easy to learn (helped by knowing the 126) other than Bromley town centre and a little left - right at the south circular followed by a left towards Lewisham it’s pretty much 1 road. First TfL route I drove I did with absolutely no route learning was the B13. I did my first rounder on the phone via a hands free earpiece to another driver. (Many years ago... it was a different time!!) did my first rounder on the 286 that way too. There's a TB driver on YouTube who said the 61 and 261 were pretty easy to learn but the B14 with all its twists and turns is a nightmare. The only slightly difficult bit of the 261 is the Lee Green curtailment. |
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Post by bn12cny on May 16, 2021 11:28:06 GMT
I’ve never driven it but surely the 129 would be the easiest to learn? The thing is, route learning is very subjective. It’s different for everyone (don’t mean this to sound smug, sorry if it does) I never needed more than 1 rounder on any route before I drove it but I knew drivers that could spend 8 hours riding around on a route then still make a wrong turn. 261 was very easy to learn (helped by knowing the 126) other than Bromley town centre and a little left - right at the south circular followed by a left towards Lewisham it’s pretty much 1 road. First TfL route I drove I did with absolutely no route learning was the B13. I did my first rounder on the phone via a hands free earpiece to another driver. (Many years ago... it was a different time!!) did my first rounder on the 286 that way too. I understand you, my first routes to drive was route 14, quite easy to learn and the next day was 74 from Roehampton to Baker Street, I never learned the route and had a mentor on board but he feel asleep time we reached West Brompton, anyway quite easy as I just followed the bus in front (I caught up with him) 265 was a little hard to learn but only did 1 rounder route learning then took over the same bus and I totally missed the New Malden turn off and ended straight into Tolworth, extra stand time! 170 very easy Roehampton to Clapham Junction and in the evenings would take out a Metro or NV on my second half, this used to annoy a lot when leaving Earl Spencer’s and heading directly towards Putney Heath (wanted the 74)! Those were the days taking a Metro or NV out in the evening on route 22 |
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Post by greenboy on May 16, 2021 11:39:06 GMT
I’ve never driven it but surely the 129 would be the easiest to learn? The thing is, route learning is very subjective. It’s different for everyone (don’t mean this to sound smug, sorry if it does) I never needed more than 1 rounder on any route before I drove it but I knew drivers that could spend 8 hours riding around on a route then still make a wrong turn. 261 was very easy to learn (helped by knowing the 126) other than Bromley town centre and a little left - right at the south circular followed by a left towards Lewisham it’s pretty much 1 road. First TfL route I drove I did with absolutely no route learning was the B13. I did my first rounder on the phone via a hands free earpiece to another driver. (Many years ago... it was a different time!!) did my first rounder on the 286 that way too. I understand you, my first routes to drive was route 14, quite easy to learn and the next day was 74 from Roehampton to Baker Street, I never learned the route and had a mentor on board but he feel asleep time we reached West Brompton, anyway quite easy as I just followed the bus in front (I caught up with him) 265 was a little hard to learn but only did 1 rounder route learning then took over the same bus and I totally missed the New Malden turn off and ended straight into Tolworth, extra stand time! 170 very easy Roehampton to Clapham Junction and in the evenings would take out a Metro or NV on my second half, this used to annoy a lot when leaving Earl Spencer’s and heading directly towards Putney Heath (wanted the 74)! Those were the days taking a Metro or NV out in the evening on route 22 A mentor that fell asleep😂😂...... I can imagine the 265 being a bit more difficult to learn....... there would be no taking double decker out on the 170 nowadays! |
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Post by bn12cny on May 16, 2021 11:44:13 GMT
I understand you, my first routes to drive was route 14, quite easy to learn and the next day was 74 from Roehampton to Baker Street, I never learned the route and had a mentor on board but he feel asleep time we reached West Brompton, anyway quite easy as I just followed the bus in front (I caught up with him) 265 was a little hard to learn but only did 1 rounder route learning then took over the same bus and I totally missed the New Malden turn off and ended straight into Tolworth, extra stand time! 170 very easy Roehampton to Clapham Junction and in the evenings would take out a Metro or NV on my second half, this used to annoy a lot when leaving Earl Spencer’s and heading directly towards Putney Heath (wanted the 74)! Those were the days taking a Metro or NV out in the evening on route 22 A mentor that fell asleep😂😂...... I can imagine the 265 being a bit more difficult to learn....... there would be no taking double decker out on the 170 nowadays! Yes because does the old 239 route, low bridge Vicarage Crescent! 239 was another good route in the evening Clapham Junction to Victoria, did this route many times and run time was so short and very easy, after 20:00 you picked up really nobody! |
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Post by MKAY315 on May 16, 2021 15:11:21 GMT
I think the 369 (when it was around) would have been a fairly easy route to run. The only part I would have dreaded driving down would be the Bastable Avenue stretch.
The 279 I think would be a difficult route to run especially if the M25 is blocked and Spurs are playing at home.
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Post by ronnie on May 16, 2021 15:27:11 GMT
I think the 369 (when it was around) would have been a fairly easy route to run. The only part I would have dreaded driving down would be the Bastable Avenue stretch. The 279 I think would be a difficult route to run especially if the M25 is blocked and Spurs are playing at home. The most difficult part there would probably be the U-turn across the dual carriageway while starting the route at Manor House. Not for the faint hearted |
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on May 16, 2021 15:51:56 GMT
I think the 369 (when it was around) would have been a fairly easy route to run. The only part I would have dreaded driving down would be the Bastable Avenue stretch. The 279 I think would be a difficult route to run especially if the M25 is blocked and Spurs are playing at home. It's funny you mention that, if you look at how much the area has changed since then and should the 369 still exist instead of the EL1 then the Bastable Avenue stretch would probably be the easiest part to run with the Ilford to Barking section being the nightmare. The 369 used to have a PVR of 13 at every 8 minutes and now the EL1 has a PVR of 19 at every 5 minutes. Although you could always wonder whether the demand down Ilford Lane would still be the same if the ELT programme never materialised, Ilford Lane was far wider before the ELT related "improvements" were carried out so traffic used to flow a lot better than today. But then did the blinged up buses have an effect? |
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Post by MKAY315 on May 16, 2021 16:08:32 GMT
I think the 369 (when it was around) would have been a fairly easy route to run. The only part I would have dreaded driving down would be the Bastable Avenue stretch. The 279 I think would be a difficult route to run especially if the M25 is blocked and Spurs are playing at home. The most difficult part there would probably be the U-turn across the dual carriageway while starting the route at Manor House. Not for the faint hearted Oh yes I forgot about that turning. Literally Seven Sisters Road can be choc-a-bloc at times with the 253, 254 and 259 coming in from all angles. Some car drivers can be inconsiderate and not allow the 279 drivers to u-turn on Seven sisters road. |
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Post by MKAY315 on May 16, 2021 16:13:38 GMT
I think the 369 (when it was around) would have been a fairly easy route to run. The only part I would have dreaded driving down would be the Bastable Avenue stretch. The 279 I think would be a difficult route to run especially if the M25 is blocked and Spurs are playing at home. It's funny you mention that, if you look at how much the area has changed since then and should the 369 still exist instead of the EL1 then the Bastable Avenue stretch would probably be the easiest part to run with the Ilford to Barking section being the nightmare. The 369 used to have a PVR of 13 at every 8 minutes and now the EL1 has a PVR of 19 at every 5 minutes. Although you could always wonder whether the demand down Ilford Lane would still be the same if the ELT programme never materialised, Ilford Lane was far wider before the ELT related "improvements" were carried out so traffic used to flow a lot better than today. But then did the blinged up buses have an effect? Good ol Ilford Lane. The road nowadays is so narrow you would rather wait behind the bus rather than trying to overtake it due to the traffic coming in the opposite direction. As for Bastable Avenue. I just remembered when those high rises were there especially around Abridge Way before it got knocked down. I respect how those drivers did it at night time. Even when the 179 used to go to Barking (I miss it still up to this day) I think that route would have been easier to do. Charlie Brown's roundabout would have been a bit of a hit and miss but Woodford Avenue with those Northern Counties Arrows and Plaxton Presidents those drivers would thrash it down Woodford Avenue. Along with the 123. |
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